Sevilla selection headache

Sevilla top scorer Alvaro Negredo is set to miss up to four games after pulling a hamstring in last weekend's 5-1 derby win over Real Betis.

Spanish international Negredo, 27, was substituted after 83 minutes of Sunday's game and tests subsequently showed that the injury was more serious than first thought.

Coach Michel may now be forced to turn to reserve centre-forward Baba, 24, for Sevilla's Primera Division trip to Atletico Madrid on Sunday night. The Senegalese, signed for €3 million last January from Maritimo, has not scored in five substitute appearances and one start for his current club this season.

"After two days of rest, Sevilla returned to work thinking about Atletico Madrid, but with the bad news of Alvaro Negredo's injury," said a statement released on Sevilla's club website on Wednesday.

"The forward suffered a tear in the medial region of his left hamstring, and will be out for three weeks."

Ex-Getafe attacker Manu del Moral is another option to replace Negredo for Sevilla's upcoming fixtures, as he is nearing a return from the hamstring injury picked up late last month.